I thought it might be fun to have a series of blogs (and, since it’s my blog, whatever I think might be fun seems pretty likely to find its way into print) on Broncos by the numbers.
The team has just completed 50 years of play, a milestone in any franchise history, and over that time a lot of players have made contributions, large and small, to what the Broncos are. It’s like family members, some more accomplished than others but when you are in a family, you are in for keeps. So too for the Broncos. Once a Broncos, always a Bronco.
Those players have worn a lot of numbers over the years, and we are going to take a look, over time, at various uniform numbers.
The recent signing of Champ Bailey to a new four-year contract prompted the thought that in Denver Broncos history, the number “24” is all about cornerbacks, and all about the Hall of Fame.
Thirteen players have worn number 24 in the 51 years of Broncos history, nine defensive backs and four running backs.
Otis Armstrong led the NFL in rushing twice and went to the Pro Bowl as the Broncos’ leading rusher, but really, “24” is all about Champ Bailey, and before him, Willie Brown.
Willie Brown was signed by the Broncos as an undrafted free agent out of Grambling in 1963 and played four years in the Mile High City.
In 1964 he had nine interceptions and made the American Football League all-star game that year. On a personal note of no great interest to anyone but me, I remember vividly Willie Brown intercepting four passes in the very first Bronco game I ever saw in person—November 15, 1964 against the New York Jets—I remember going to old Bears Stadium and buying one ticket at one of those old wooden ticket booths that minor league ballparks used to have—I walked up on game day and bought a ticket on the 35-yard line! That was just a different time in pro sports history and in the history of a developing Western city.
Brown was traded after four years and went on to continue and certainly enhance his Hall of Fame career with the Oakland Raiders. Today, he is remembered mostly, and almost entirely, as a Raider.
But regarding wearing number 24 in the Denver defensive backfield, it turned out he was just setting the table for Champ Bailey.
Champ without question already is one of the great cornerbacks in pro football history and was named first team on the NFL,s All-Decade team for the 2000’s—the All-Decade teams are chosen by the pro football Hall of Fame selection committee members and certainly selection to it at Champ’s relatively young age suggests his extraordinarily strong candidacy for eventual membership in the Hall of Fame.
Champ needs two more interceptions to reach 50 for his career, and he is recognized just as much for his overall approach to the game and to team leadership—Champ always makes the tackle, never avoids the big collision, always says and does the right thing.
He handles his leadership duties like the true captain that he is.
Like most players, he is not crazy about doing press, but he faithfully executes his interviews in a regular and respectful manner, enough so that he has been recognized by the Denver press repeatedly for his regular and mature dealings with them. Champ is very active in our community and was the team’s Walter Payton Man of the Year in both 2008 and 2009 for his work in the community.
Just a class guy.
If anything, Champ Bailey perhaps has not been given enough credit for staying here. Free agency exists in the NFL and as a soon-to-be free agent Champ had every right to test the waters, see what all the other teams might have to offer. Certainly, one would expect that there would have been a lot of scenarios presented to Champ Bailey for his services.
But when Champ said he wanted to stay here, that he felt comfortable here, part of the community, with respect for the organization and what John Elway, John Fox, and Brian Xanders are building, Champ was not just giving lip service.
He meant it.
Every athlete has a right to leave, but Champ exercised his right to stay. We are so proud of Champ Bailey.
And it real easy to be proud of him and respect him as a player, since he is one of the best players in the game. But if anything, Champ Bailey has proved himself to be an even better person, and the Broncos and Denver are fortunate to have him as one of our own.
Tags: By the Numbers, Champ Bailey, Willie Brown
I would prob run a 4.6. I would probably tweak a hammy doing it though!!!!
Rodeo clown, pint glass, love it all! You can’t get that kind of stuff anywhere else!
Ok. Most of you know I’m an Ort supporter. I’ll also be the first to admit, I know he’s not our franchise QB. However, since Tebow is the fan favorite to be our Franchise, what shame is there in getting him developed the proper way? We’ve already invested a lot in him. Why not put him in the best position to succeed. Sure he can be thrown in the fire and learn as he goes, a la Elway! But I prefer the model Rodgers was afforded. Just my opinion!
BTW, speaking of Brews, I had the opportunity to visit the Left Hand Brewing Company in Longmont! I must say, they have some tasty suds! I was especially fond of the nitros. That is beers that don’t have CO2 instead, nitrogen for their carbonation. SMOOTH………….
Milk Stout from Left hand , yummi…. I worked in Longmont for 3/4 years in the seventies, Robin was my hot girlfriend then, haha.
We drink that on tap in Austin…
BTW strand, my beer pint down time: 2.83
Has anyone looked up the stats for Matthews he really is not that good. You can go back and look at his bowl game too. He missed alot of tackles only getting one. I do not want that as my SOLID ILB.
My 40 was in the 4.7-4.8 a couple of years ago I have not timed it in awhile though.
Well, we agree on that, I don’t want Matthews either, there is bound to be a misfire in the family tree and it seems like it could be him.
If you look at almost all of the other ILB in this years draft they are for the most par in the 100′s with their tackle amounts Casey is in the 70′s. That is a big gap to me at least.
Martez Wilson- 112 tackles included 11.5 for loss and four sacks.
Gregg Jones- 154 tackles (67 solo), 13.5 for loss and 6.5 sacks.
Quan Sturdivant- 122 (87 solo), 5.5 for loss and 2 sacks.
Casey Matthews- 79 tackles, 9 for loss.
sndvl, the nitrogen carbonation process has been around a long time with Guiness, that’s what provides that special pour, the left hand milk stout on tap poured that way is great. Problem is with the nitro bartenders in busy bars don’t like it because it’s such a slower pour, but good things take time…
Well, I have been talked by you all into doing a rare Tuesday trip to the Pub for happy hour, thanks guys!
Actually it’s all sndvl’s fault, haha.
And strand’s a little too.
Yes they do! They had the Milk Stout and Sawtooth with the nitro pour!
They also had an Imperial stout at 10.9%.
The 400 pound monkey, which was pretty tasty and not as hoppy as I thought it would be. I also liked the Blackjack Porter. So much so, I bought me a growler (half-gallon) to bring home. Which
has been gone for a few days now.
But nothing topped that milk stout. I don’t know of any local establishments that offer it, but you can believe I will be on the search. LOL
You beat me Bay. My beer time was 3.7
strand, normal, older = more practice, haha.
Growlers, yeah, those are valuable, here many pubs will fill your 64 ozs. growler with whatever brew you want to take home, nice way to watch a Bronco game…
I think Cassey william will be good. If you look back on clay, so many lbs were drafted before him (including ayers for whatever reason). Casseys numbers arent good but im sure he has the pedigree but clearly Gregg Jones is the favorite (I keep calling him Mike Jones for some reason) But if Gregg is gone, I would go cassey. Chances are Gregg and Martez will be gone early but I like me some Gregg Jones (pause) …. TRB out…
I really think that with the #2 overall pick in the draft, where you had basically the leagues worst defense, that we will take Peterson! I think when you have that high of a pick that you DEFINITELY pick the best player available instead of highest need!!
Look at the Lions last year!! They needed an OT drastically because they had one of the worst O lines in the league and the year before took a QB with the 1 overall pick in Stafford, so you think they would’ve built that poor offense of theirs!!
Instead, they take the best player available in their #2 spot and take Suh!!
I have talked to my friends that are fans of other teams and have also talked to other Bronco fans on the phone and they agree that they do not see a Suh type player in this draft with Dareus, Fairley, Quinn, or Bowers!! We have so many needs on defense that we CANNOT afford to take a miss on a player!! Peterson has the most potential and most promise than any other player in this draft, including on offense!!
I do not agree with us not taking him because no CB has ever been taken at #2, that doesn’t matter!!! Peterson is a complete shut down corner that will also return kicks for us and was the best returner and best corner in the NATION last year in college!! He will help our team more in the long run!
You have to agree with this right here too!! We will have him paired with Bailey! Thing is with most QB’s, they ALL know what Champ can do! QB’s are not going to throw Champs way hardly ever! If you look last year, they attacked Cox and Goody, whoever was in that other CB spot! If we draft Peterson, with that fact that I just mentioned, I see him having at least 6 picks for the season!!!
Also, I understand how most of you say we shouldn’t use him in the return game but DeSean Jackson is a returner and Deion was a returner!! Those two players are just as good as Peterson and just as important and they returned kicks, just because it made a huge difference in the outcome of the game!!
You have to be able to do everything it takes to be able to win games, hence Peterson should be allowed to return kicks in the NFL! I see him being like Jackson and Hester in the return game!!
My mock draft that I think would BEST help our team on defense is this!
Peterson
Paea, if he is gone then Wilson
If we missed on Paea then either Austin/Nevis
Matthews or another DL
Also, I MUST add that I really liked Greg Jones but after seeing him run a 475 and Wilson running an AMAZING 449, I want Wilson more than anything! With that speed, he will have the ability to cover anyone who comes into his zone! He is fast enough to get to the ball and has great tackling skills!! I would say that I would prefer either one, which I do, but if we get to our pick and neither one of them has been taken, then it’s Wilson ALL THE WAY!!! We need to get fast really bad and adding both Peterson and Wilson would drastically improve our speed!!
I also say we take Peterson just because of all the FA’s and players that have been released who are DL! We can easily pick up one or two of them and grab Austin/Nevis or probably both in the draft! Nevis will go in the 2nd and Austin will probably go in the 3rd so we could grab both of those guys!!
The mock draft that I believe will have the most impact, just because of Peterson’s dual threat in the return game and
Sorry for the long post again, this combine and draft is just driving me crazy!
We have a Flying Saucer here with at least 85 beers on tap at any given time, they usually always have the milk stout on the nitro pour. However they only have those in Texas and now in Oklahoma I think. But Chicago has got to have it going on for beers I would think, Pabst Blue Ribbon, Old Milwaukee, LOL.
Yea, I also do agree with y’all on not taking Matthews, especially since he just now injured his shoulder!!!
I say we take a DL with that 3rd round pick now! If we get Wilson then he will be good enough to give us a pretty good LB combo!
Bay…
I live in Charlotte and we also have a Flying Saucer! It is my favorite bar ever and I am up to 115 beers now! Haha, have to get my saucer up on the wall!
Cool, I didn’t know that, it sure sounds like you could use one about right now, LOL.
I’ll give you one of my secret, Wilson is one of the guy I have had on my board since day one. Now you know too much…
Here is a great vid of Wilson!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHEqRiHAIV0&feature=related
Haha, uh oh, that mock draft is breaking down with you Bay!
You know, some might come to find out that when you reveal your true mock draft, that you have us taking Peterson with our #2 pick! You have spoken so high on Dareus that you might have just put out a smoke screen so that we wouldn’t know who you thought we would pick!
Haha, yup that’s it!
Haha, and yes!
I do need to get off of this blog and go to the saucer! Great thing about it is, I live RIGHT beside of it! I have to try to limit myself though because they overprice beer drastically!!!
I love Wilson’s size and speed but he lacks the hard hitting that I desire. However I would be happy to get him because he gets the job done even if its not a brain damaging hit he just put on the RB lol.
Yea Mikey…
Even if Wilson couldn’t take down someone fully, like a big TE or RB/FB, he would slow them down and let other defenders come to his aid! He tackled some pretty big guys in college so I am not concerned with him at all!
I just hope he falls to us! I honestly think that Paea is going to be a 1st rounder so most likely we will go Wilson with the 1st pick in 2nd round and someone like either Austin/Nevis with our 2nd 2nd round pick.
I have decided to take a stance. I am on the owners side of the cba. Players often talk about how football is just a job for them, and how its a business. Well, welcome to the real world. In any job you can’t walk into your CEOs office asking for a percent of the cut of the profits. You may say that without players there is no league, but without workers there is no job of any kind. The exception with football players is they cannot #### about salaries where as many working folks can. So, NFLPA,come to work and be thankful for your job, work under the rules of your CEO, or find a new career. That is a normal job.
Ok……awkward silence.
That’s because no one is willing to argue with you…. At least I won’t.
The best pint of Guiness is in a pub in Dublin where the beer is piped direct from the brewery.
Quit rubbing it in Crazy……..
So it’s like oil, a guiness reserve lying miles under Dublin that they are able to tap into, nice!
Striking it rich at the pub huh. So are they going to raise the beer prices too? LOL
man i bet broncosfreak30′s exclamation point key has completely rubbed off. but i do agree that we should go peterson. of course i have made that abudantly clear to the point of obsession. i do want to consider jones, tho, even with the slow 40 time. too much is made of these measurables, and while they are important, they are not that critical. unless of course you get a lb runnin in the 5′s. jones is a truly talented player and he would be perfect for the middle. we could put woodyard on the weak side and dj on the strong side. i think dj can play anywhere. maybe dj on the weak and hayes on the strong. as far as the cba negotiations, i dont think we will have a work stoppage for long if we have one. the players are going to be tested by the owners for awhile because they hold the cards, they’ll get and give a little come june or july and we’ll be back to football. its just too valuable for a strike. just think of the things that would be affected. the nfl has endless reach and influence. no way it cancels the season. no way.
by the way broncosfreak30′s draft wishes is really good too. totally agree.